Recognition and Reconciliation: An Alberta Fact or Fiction?

Transcription

1 Recognition and Reconciliation: An Alberta Fact or Fiction? The Duty to Consult in Alberta and the Impact on the Oil and Gas Industry DEBORAH M.I. SZATYLO I INTRODUCTION 203 II ORIGIN OF THE DUTY 205 A Private Law Fiduciary Duty 205 B Public Law Fiduciary Duty 206 C Triggering the Duty 207 III REQUIREMENTS OF THE DUTY 209 A British Columbia Developments 209 Constitutional and Doctrinal Development 210 Provincial Obligation At Common Law 210 Full Information and Addressing Concerns 212 Crown s or Industry s Duty? 213 Provincial Statute Does Not Affect Duty 215 Administrative Law Access 215 LL.B University of Alberta, Currently articling with the Court of Appeal of Alberta, to be followed by Parlee McLaws, Edmonton. This undergraduate paper is the recipient of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law Award, and an earlier version was co-winner of the Adams Prize in Oil and Gas Law. The author gratefully acknowledges the editorial assistance of Alana Harding, Joe Nagy and Lorie Huising. The opinions in this article are based on the views of a born and raised resident Albertan, who has experienced both what the pristine wilderness has to offer and the devastating effects of oil and gas development while working on an oil rig in Alberta s northern Chinchaga boreal forest. This author firmly believes that the legitimate claims of Alberta s Aboriginal groups should not continue to go unheard, and that the strong economy, natural resource development, and Aboriginal rights can exist in harmony in this province ultimately to the future benefit of all Albertans and the environment. Cases are current as of March Indigenous Law Journal/Volume 1/Spring

2 202 Indigenous Law Journal Vol. 1 Relief Through Administrative Tribunals 215 Relief Through Judicial Review 216 B Fulfilling the Duty 217 Full Information to Aboriginal Groups 217 Crown Informed of First Nation Practices and Views 218 Meaningful and Reasonable Consultation 219 IV SITUATION IN ALBERTA 220 A Aboriginal Perspectives 220 B R. v. Breaker 221 C Tribunal Decisions 223 Cheviot Coal Project 223 Whitefish Lake First Nation v. Alberta 224 D Ahyasou v. Lund 225 E Federal Court Developments 226 Mikisew Cree First Nation v. Canada (Minister of Canadian Heritage) 226 F Alberta s Perspective 228 The Legislation is Different 228 No Fiduciary Duty 230 Governmental Policy 230 Treaty Rights are Extinguished 231 V CONSEQUENCES FOR THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY 233 VI CONCLUSION 235 The centre of the Aboriginal people s livelihood and worldview is their special relationship with the land and its resources. However, increasingly rapid resource development threatens their future relationship with the land and the environment. Despite the Governments of Canada owing both private and public fiduciary duties to Aboriginal people, the devastation of the land continues without their rights and views being fully considered. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the province of Alberta. While the

3 Spring 2002 Recognition and Reconciliation 203 law regarding the duty to consult has been spoken to by the Supreme Court of Canada and various courts and tribunals outside of Alberta, establishing that the duty exists within Alberta in the natural resource context continues to be a battle. The author examines the law accumulating in surrounding jurisdictions regarding the duty to consult Aboriginal groups in the natural resource context; how the Alberta government, courts and tribunals have responded to the developing law; and what impact this may have on the oil and gas industry. The author infers that the profitability of Alberta s plentiful resources and the conservativeness of the territory, exemplified most strongly by the government, have thus far prevented recognition of the duty. The law and justice demand more. I INTRODUCTION Canada s Aboriginal people have enjoyed a special relationship with the land and its resources since time immemorial. Over the past century the Aboriginal lifestyle has sustained severe damage because of natural resource development despite the Crowns fiduciary obligations to Aboriginal peoples. The Constitution Act, 1982 protects Aboriginal rights and has given rise to a large body of common law that interprets these rights and sets the standard that the Crown is required to meet to fulfill fiduciary obligations towards Aboriginal groups. A necessary procedural requirement of meeting the Crown s obligation is the duty to consult Aboriginal groups that may be affected by legislation or projects that have the potential to infringe their constitutionally protected rights. Oil and gas exploration and land development impacts all aspects of Aboriginal rights because the land is central to First Nations identity. The recent Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples devotes substantial time to the relationship Aboriginals have with the land and its resources. The core of the Aboriginal worldview is the belief that the land and resources are living things that deserve and require the utmost respect and protection. 1 Land is absolutely fundamental to Aboriginal identity land is reflected in the language, culture and spiritual values of all Aboriginal peoples. Aboriginal concepts of territory, property and tenure, of resource management and ecological knowledge may differ profoundly from those of other Canadians, but they are no less entitled to respect Canada, Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Communication Group, 1996) at 436 [hereinafter Royal Commission]. 2. Ibid. at 425.

4 204 Indigenous Law Journal Vol. 1 Unfortunately, these concepts have historically not been honoured. Resource development has caused damage, displacement and distress resulting in the increasing difficulty of maintaining Aboriginal lands and livelihoods as development expands. 3 Because of the extreme importance of the land to Aboriginal people and the fact that the governments of Canada owe fiduciary duties to Aboriginal groups, the developing duty to consult must be strictly adhered to. The focus of this article is on Alberta, where unique conditions exist making an examination of the developing duty to consult in the natural resource context a worthy endeavour. The Conservative Klein government is riding a high tide of support, now in its third consecutive term, enjoying access to billions of dollars in yearly oil and gas revenue. 4 Increased technology and government desire have tremendously increased the amount of development going on in Alberta, especially in the North where conflict with the Aboriginal way of life is inevitable. 5 The government and industry have strong financial reasons for maintaining the status quo. The disparity in the wealth and resources of Aboriginal groups as opposed to non-aboriginal stakeholders is formidable, as are the implications for both government and industry when the duty to consult is more fully recognized. The purpose of this article is to examine what the law is, how Alberta has responded and what impact this may have on the oil and gas industry. Not only does the duty to consult exist in Alberta, but the Alberta government s failure to meet this duty could have potentially disastrous effects for the future of Aboriginal people, private industry and the environment itself. Part II of the article outlines the origin of the duty to consult and what triggers the duty. Part III explores the nature and scope of this duty by reference to the developing case law in neighbouring treaty jurisdictions, with a particular focus on the natural resource sector. Part IV examines the development of the doctrine in Alberta and discusses the failure to recognize the duty to consult Aboriginal peoples within the province. Finally, Part V of the article outlines the potential consequences to 3. Ibid. at 425 and See Alberta Government, News Release, Alberta remains in a strong position to handle global economic slowdown (21 November 2001), online: < dsp_feature.cfm?lkfid=72>; TD Economics, Government Finances (12 October 2001), online: < which reports $10.6 billion in resource revenue for the year 2000 and an average yearly revenue of $5-6 billion. On Premier Klein s support see: B. Duckworth, Main Story The Western Producer (1 March 2001), online: Forest Watch web site < articles/ /special_report/ / klein_main.html> (all date accessed: 19 February 2002). 5. For a look at the increase in and distribution of conventional oil and gas development in northern Alberta see: Conventional Oil and Gas Wells, online: < which reports well over 100,000 active wells as of These figures do not include the development of an estimated 1.6 trillion barrels of crude bitumen in the northern oil sands region. See Alberta Energy web site, online: < (date accessed: 19 February 2002).

5 Spring 2002 Recognition and Reconciliation 205 third parties involved in the oil and gas industry and offers some helpful suggestions to ensure their investments are as secure as possible. II ORIGIN OF THE DUTY A Private Law Fiduciary Duty Damage to the Aboriginal way of life has occurred despite the fiduciary duty owed to Aboriginals by the federal and provincial governments. Before 1982 it was undisputed that the federal government owed a private law fiduciary duty to Aboriginal peoples because of its special relationship with them. The source of this is the Royal Proclamation of 1763, 6 which has been interpreted by the courts as a Crown undertaking to protect Aboriginal peoples by mandating that Aboriginal land interests are inalienable except to the Crown. Thus the Crown established a unique fiduciary relationship, requiring of itself the highest responsibility known in law. 7 The same private duty has also been held to apply to the Alberta provincial Crown since the Alberta Natural Resources Act, In R. v. Badger the Supreme Court held that the effect of para. 12 of the NRTA is to place the provincial government in exactly the same position which the federal Crown formerly occupied. 9 Therefore, the province has had the same private law duty not to unjustifiably infringe Aboriginal rights protected by treaty since This private duty continues to exist and applies to the Alberta government and on federal reserve lands. In the context of oil and gas, Indian Oil and Gas Canada attempts to meet the federal duty on reserve land. Breaches of this private fiduciary duty have resulted, and will continue to result, in astronomical compensation to affected Aboriginal groups. 10 In Alberta the government has, for the most part, either denied the existence of the duty or ignored it. 6. Royal Proclamation, 1763 (U.K.), reprinted in R.S.C. 1985, App. II, No R. v. Guerin, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 335 at 376, See also M. McDonald, The Fiduciary Duty in Aboriginal Law and Crown Considerations (Conference on Business with First Nations and the Fiduciary Duty, Pacific Business & Law Institute, 5 June 2000) 3-1 for general discussion. 8. Alberta Natural Resources Act, 1930 (U.K.), Geo. V, c. 3 s. 12, reprinted in Constitution Act, 1930, Sch. II [hereinafter NRTA]. This document has constitutional protection. 9. R. v. Badger, [1996] 1 S.C.R. 771 at para. 96, online: QL (SCJ) [hereinafter Badger]. 10. See Blueberry River Indian Band v. Canada, [1995] 4 S.C.R. 344 where $147,000,000 was awarded to the Band when the federal government conveyed the Band s reserve land not withholding the mineral rights for lease. See also N. Bankes & L.D. Rae, Recent Cases on the Calculation of Royalties on First Nations Lands (1999) 38 Alta. L. Rev. 258 at 260.

6 206 Indigenous Law Journal Vol. 1 B Public Law Fiduciary Duty In 1982 the Constitution Act created a public law fiduciary duty that requires the Governments of Canada to protect and preserve Aboriginal rights: s. 35(1) The existing [A]boriginal and treaty rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed. 11 Section 35 has been held to protect various types of Aboriginal rights, including distinctive customs and practices integral to an Aboriginal group s culture engaged in prior to European contact; 12 Aboriginal title to land exclusively occupied and in continuous use since 1867; 13 and treaty rights encompassing cultural and territorial interests. 14 The public law fiduciary duty implies both negative and positive duties to fulfill the obligation. The government must restrain itself from enacting legislation or acting in a manner that infringes upon Aboriginal rights. And it must take positive steps to protect these rights when any regulation or third party proposal threatens to interfere with them. 15 The courts have confirmed 11. Constitution Act, 1982, s. 35, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (U.K.), 1982, c. 11 [hereinafter Section 35] [emphasis added]. 12. R. v. Van der Peet, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 507, online: QL (SCJ). Collectively called Aboriginal rights, which vary along a spectrum in their connectedness to the land, see Delgamuukw v. British Columbia, [1997] 3 S.C.R at para. 138ff, online: QL (SCJ) [hereinafter Delgamuukw]. Aboriginal rights that are asserted must be proven in court. See discussion of Aboriginal and treaty rights in T. Campbell & M. Wyatt-Sindlinger, Consultation: The Law and Process (Conference on Oil and Gas Development and Exploration and Aboriginal Interests, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Calgary, 29 November 2001) at 1-5; and P. Macklem, The Crown s Duty to Consult: The Current Legal Landscape (Conference on First Nations, The Environment and Development: The Emerging Duty to Consult, Canadian Bar Association, 29 January 1999) at A form of Aboriginal right, Aboriginal title is the collective right to the exclusive use and occupation of a tract of land; see Delgamuukw, ibid. at paras Again, Aboriginal title must be proven in Court. 14. Most of Ontario, portions of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, and all of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta are covered by numbered treaties. They generally provide that the Aboriginal adherents will cede, release and surrender the described land in exchange for a set-aside reserve for the group s use and benefit and treaty rights over the whole tract of ceded land, which include the right to pursue their usual vocations of hunting, trapping, and fishing. The wording also indicates that treaty rights may be subject to government regulation for conservation purposes or the excepting of tracts, as may be required or taken up from time to time for settlement, mining, lumbering, trading. See discussion of Treaty 6 in R. v. Horse, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 187; Treaty 7 in R. v. Breaker (2001), 280 A.R. 201 at para. 361 (Prov. Ct.), online: QL (AJ) [hereinafter Breaker]; and Treaty 8 in Badger, supra note 9. Treaty rights involve mutually binding obligations, in writing and oral understanding, specifically recognized in Section 35; the existence of which, should not have to be proven in court. 15. M.M. Litman, (Fiduciary Duty Lecture, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, 8 October 2000) [unpublished].

7 Spring 2002 Recognition and Reconciliation 207 that the public law fiduciary duty applies to the provincial Crown regarding Section 35 rights. 16 C Triggering the Duty The courts recognize that Aboriginal rights are not absolute and must be reconciled with other rights, but have held that any infringement must be justified. Since 1982 neither level of government may infringe upon Aboriginal rights unless the infringement furthers a compelling and substantial objective, and the infringement must be consistent with the fiduciary relationship that exists between the Crown and Aboriginal people. 17 To be consistent with the governments fiduciary obligation, certain procedures follow to uphold the honour of the Crown. These procedures include: giving priority to the Aboriginal right in relation to other rights; minimal impairment of the right to achieve the desired objective; fair compensation in situations of expropriation; and the duty to consult affected Aboriginal groups. 18 The Supreme Court of Canada as well as some of the lower courts and tribunals have discussed the duty to consult at length. The duty arises whenever a Crown action would have the effect of infringing constitutionally protected Section 35 rights. If the facts of a given set of circumstances demonstrate the existence of an Aboriginal right and a possibility of infringement, the Crown is bound by the duty to consult. 19 The 16. Halfway River First Nation v. British Columbia (Ministry of Forests), [1999] B.C.J. No (C.A.), online: QL (BCJ) [hereinafter Halfway Appeal]. See also Gitanyow First Nation v. Canada, [1999] B.C.J. No. 659 at para. 46 (S.C.), online: QL (BCJ) [hereinafter Gitanyow]. Held there is only one Crown and that the Crown is not, nor has it ever been, divisible. 17. First acknowledged by the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Sparrow, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1075, online: QL (SCJ) [hereinafter Sparrow] and most recently in Delgamuukw, supra note 12 at paras and often referred to as the Sparrow test of justification. First, the claimant must establish that the Crown action has the effect of interfering with an existing Aboriginal right, that is, the action is unreasonable if it imposes undue hardship, or it denies the holder of the preferred means of exercising the right. Second, the Crown must prove that the infringement is justified by establishing (1) valid government objectives and (2) that fiduciary and procedural duties are met. Conservation and resource management are considered valid objectives (Sparrow, ibid. at paras ), as well as forestry, mining and general economic development (Delgamuukw, ibid. at para. 165), but economic interests rank behind Aboriginal rights (Sparrow, ibid. at 1115). 18. Sparrow, ibid. at , paras See also T. Campbell, Understanding the Consultation Process (Conference on Structuring Joint Ventures and Resource Development Arrangements Between Aboriginal Communities and the Petroleum Industry, Calgary, 1 December 1998) Insight Press 240 at ; T. Campbell & M. Wyatt-Sindlinger, supra note 12 at J. Woodward & R. Janes, The Promise of Consultation: Strategies and Tactics (Conference on First Nations, The Environment, and Development: The Emerging Duty to Consult, Canadian Bar Association, 29 January 1999) at 4. It will be seen below that Alberta denies the existence and extent of Aboriginal rights regarding land in the natural resource context.

8 208 Indigenous Law Journal Vol. 1 province of Alberta is covered by treaty, mainly Nos. 6, 7 and 8 and small portions by No. 4 and No Section 35 unquestionably protects treaty rights. The Supreme Court has held that the provincial government is under a clear duty to consult Aboriginal groups about the potential infringement of a treaty right affirmed by Section In Badger the Court said a treaty is an exchange of solemn promises between the Crown and the various Indian nations whose nature is sacred The honour of the Crown is always at stake in its dealing with Indian people, and no appearance of sharp dealing will be sanctioned. 22 Because a treaty is a solemn agreement it is equally if not more important to justify prima facie infringements of treaty rights. 23 The issue in Badger was whether Treaty 8 protected the right to hunt and whether it, therefore, provided a defence to hunting without a licence and out of season under Alberta s Wildlife Act. The Treaty 8 right to hunt was held to be a treaty right within the meaning of Section 35 and was a valid defence. Specifically, Treaty 8 protected hunting for food on private property ( white area under a grazing lease) that was not put to a visible, incompatible use. 24 Alberta argued that a treaty right could not operate on land taken up by the province, but the argument was to no avail. The Court will determine whether privately owned land permits a right of access for Aboriginals to hunt on a case-by-case basis, dependant upon the factors indicating a visible incompatible use. It would seem that the duty to consult is not only triggered by possible infringement of treaty rights on the scarcely inhabited forested green areas of Alberta, but also, under the right circumstances, by infringement of treaty rights on private land or the white areas allotted for settlement and agricultural development For a view of and information on the treaties and reserves in Alberta see First Nations and Métis web site, online: < and the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development web site, online: < pages/resources/maps/indian_reserve.html> (date accessed: 8 March 2002). 21. S. Lawrence & P. Macklem, From Consultation to Reconciliation: Aboriginal Rights and the Crown s Duty to Consult (2000) 79 Can. Bar Rev. 252 at 256. See also P. Macklem, supra note 12 at Badger, supra note 9 at Ibid. at 814. See also the discussion in S. Lawrence & P. Macklem, supra note 21 at Badger, ibid. at para For a view of the land management divisions within Alberta into white area (managed by Public Lands, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development) and green area (managed by Alberta Environment, Land and Forest Services) see the Alberta government web site, online: < See also the statistics indicating the current distribution of oil and gas development within the white/green managerial districts at < (date accessed: 8 March 2002).

9 Spring 2002 Recognition and Reconciliation 209 III REQUIREMENTS OF THE DUTY The nature and scope of the duty to consult will vary with the nature of the right involved and the seriousness of the infringement. In Delgamuukw the Court stated that [t]here is always a duty of consultation the nature and scope of the duty of consultation will vary with the circumstances. In occasional cases, when the breach is less serious or relatively minor, it will be no more than a duty to discuss important decisions Of course, even in these rare cases when the minimum acceptable standard is consultation, this consultation must be in good faith, and with the intention of substantially addressing the concerns of the Aboriginal peoples whose lands are at issue. In most cases, it will be significantly deeper than mere consultation. Some cases may even require the full consent of an Aboriginal nation, particularly when provinces enact hunting or fishing regulations in relation to Aboriginal lands. 26 The Court s aim appears to be the fostering of negotiation rather than litigation between the Crown and Aboriginal groups, but the requirements of the duty to consult have been difficult to develop within the lower courts. 27 Aside from some acknowledgment of the duty in the context of treaty land entitlement claims and non-resource threatening contexts, the province of Alberta has given little attention to the practicalities of the duty to consult, preferring to argue whether the duty exists at all when it concerns the profitable natural resource sector. A British Columbia Developments Treaty 8 covers nearly a third of the province of British Columbia and is located in the northeast corner adjacent to Alberta. Here the case law regarding the duty to consult has been developing rapidly from litigation arising out of the infringement of Aboriginal rights within the Treaty 8 area. The law from British Columbia is highly relevant to Alberta, which is covered by treaties, mainly by Treaty No. 8. Judy Maas, a Tribal Chief of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association with much experience dealing with 26. Delgamuukw, supra note 12 at 1113, as quoted by S. Lawrence & P. Macklem, supra note 21 at 257. Liidlii Kue First Nation v. Canada (A.G.), (2000) 187 F.T.R. 161, F.C.J. No. 1176, online: QL (FCJ) [hereinafter Liidlii Kue] dealt with Treaty 11 and a land use permit granted to test drill for a mining claim that interfered with trapping by three Aboriginal families. The Court held that this consultation requirement undeniably applied to Section 35 treaty rights to hunt, trap, and fish at paras Of significance is that the duty to consult issue was heard by application for judicial review, unlike the Queen s Bench in Alberta; see Ahyasou v. Lund, infra note 91 and accompanying text. See also Mikisew Cree First Nation v. Canada (Minister of Canadian Heritage), [2001] F.C.J. No (T.D.), online: QL (FCJ) [hereinafter Mikisew] which held on the constitutional ground through an application for judicial review to set aside approval to construct a winter road (at paras ). 27. S. Lawrence & P. Macklem, ibid. at

10 210 Indigenous Law Journal Vol. 1 consultation conflicts in northeast British Columbia, warns, the troubles experienced in B.C. are coming your way. She predicts the problems for the natural resource sector will be even worse in Alberta because the provincial government does not acknowledge even a token obligation. 28 Fortunately, industry stakeholders have not been so steadfast, likely motivated by a need for security over their investments. The developing requirements to fulfill the duty should impact the manner in which they conduct their business. It will be noticed that many of the following cases involve challenges based on the combination of administrative law principles through judicial review and/or the constitutional route for failed duty inherent in Section 35. Clearly, from the Aboriginal perspective the constitutional route is preferred because the scope of the Section 35 duty to consult is much broader and conceivably could range to the requirement of Aboriginal consent. 29 The courts and tribunals of British Columbia take the duty to consult seriously, developing and clarifying the doctrine along both constitutional and administrative principles. Constitutional and Doctrinal Development Provincial Obligation At Common Law It is clear in British Columbia that the provincial government owes a fiduciary duty to Aboriginal groups and a procedural duty to consult. In Halfway River First Nation v. British Columbia 30 the Supreme Court dealt with an application for judicial review regarding a cutting permit granted by the provincial Ministry of Forests. The cutting permit granted to Canadian Forest Products ( CanFor ) covered an area within Treaty 8, off reserve, that the First Nation claimed they used for traditional purposes, including hunting, ceremonies and gathering plants for food and medicine. The Court quashed the permit because the District Manager failed to meet the Crown s fiduciary duty to the First Nation by not adequately consulting with them prior to issuing the permit; thus it failed to justify the infringement of Treaty 28. Judy Maas, What Oil and Gas Activities Infringe on Aboriginal Interests (Conference on Structuring Joint Ventures and Resource Development Arrangements Between Aboriginal Communities and the Petroleum Industry, Calgary, 1 December 1998) Insight Press 97 at See Delgamuukw quote above at note 26 and discussion in C. Corcoran, Recent Developments in the Duty to Consult with First Nations (Conference on Oil and Gas Exploration and Development and Aboriginal Interests, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Calgary, 23 November 2000) at Halfway River First Nation v. British Columbia (Ministry of Forests), [1997] B.C.J. No (S.C.), online: QL (BCJ) [hereinafter Halfway]. Note that this decision was released prior to Delgamuukw in favour of the First Nation without the benefit of the most recent pronouncements of the Supreme Court of Canada regarding the duty to consult. See also the three-part test, discussed below in Part III.B.

11 Spring 2002 Recognition and Reconciliation rights. Halfway recognized the common law duty to consult as stated by the Supreme Court of Canada. The Court held the duty applies to the provincial government, which must consult with potentially affected Aboriginal groups prior to approving an action that may infringe treaty rights. Here, no representative of government was ever involved in the meetings that took place between CanFor and the First Nation before the permit was issued. 31 The British Columbia Court of Appeal upheld the lower court decision on the appeal by the Crown. The province argued that the Treaty 8 right to hunt, by the words of the treaty, was subject to the Crown s right to require or take up lands from time to time for settlement, mining, lumbering, trading or other purposes, which occurred when the logging permit was granted. The province s argument failed in favour of the broad treaty interpretation espoused in Badger. Consequently, the infringement of the First Nation s right to hunt was not justifiable. While the government action likely met a valid objective, the government failed to establish that the procedural duties were met. 32 Halfway was followed in Kelly Lake Cree First Nation v. Canada 33 where both levels of government were involved in granting permits to Amoco to cut trees; build an access road, camp and well site; and to drill an exploratory natural gas well. The land in question was within the Treaty 8 area between two mountains called the Twin Sisters and was a spiritual sanctuary shared by many Aboriginal groups. On Kelly Lake s application for judicial review their non-treaty interest was found to be too geographically remote. Respecting the other applicant who had adhered to Treaty 8, the Court held that the Crown s fiduciary duty had been discharged because the duty to consult had been met. The provincial government and Amoco initiated and funded an Ethnic Historical Study and Traditional Use Study that involved elders and other members from three tribal groups. The Court considered the range of consultation required by Delgamuukw and acknowledged the provincial duty to consult before making decisions that will affect Aboriginal rights. The Court concluded that approval was attained from all the relevant First 31. Ibid. at Halfway Appeal, supra note 16 at paras. 8, Without consultation it would seem impossible to prove minimal impairment or that priority has been given to the affected Aboriginal right. 33. Kelly Lake Cree First Nation v. Canada (Ministry of Energy and Mines, Ministry of Forests, Amoco), [1999] 3 C.N.L.R. 126, B.C.J. No (S.C.), online: QL (BCJ) [hereinafter Kelly Lake].

12 212 Indigenous Law Journal Vol. 1 Nations, with the exception of the Salteau who sought to delay the decision. 34 Full Information and Addressing Concerns The British Columbia courts recognize that the province s constitutional obligation cannot be met without fully informing the Aboriginal group of the project s potential adverse effects. In Cheslatta Carrier Nation v. British Columbia an Aboriginal group failed at obtaining an injunction but succeeded in creating additional last minute work for the involved company. The Cheslatta Carrier Nation applied for judicial review to challenge government approval given to develop a copper mine. The First Nation sought an injunction and a declaration that it must be consulted in a meaningful and timely fashion. Huckleberry Mines Ltd. had failed to provide wildlife information and mapping as requested by the Project Committee relating to the proposal s effect upon the First Nation s traditional practices. This omission caused Cheslatta to drop out of negotiations. Approval was granted despite the lack of this information, leading Huckleberry to invest sixty million dollars before trial. The Court held that the consultation was inadequate because Huckleberry s failure to disclose deprived the First Nation from fully considering the impact of the project, any protective measures that may be required and determining fair compensation. 35 The Court ordered a new committee be established and that relevant information be provided but stopped short of an injunction. Recently, a majority of the British Columbia Court of Appeal upheld the lower Court s decision to quash a permit because the provincial government failed to adequately inform itself fully of the Aboriginal group s concerns or to meaningfully address them. In Taku River Tlingit First Nation v. Tulsequah Chief Mine Project 36 the developer, Redfern Resources ( Redfern ), applied under the Environmental Assessment Act for approval to reopen a mine and build an access road to haul ore. Redfern invested ten million dollars and made a genuine effort to comply with the Act, however, 34. Ibid. at para The consultation by Amoco and the government was ruled sufficient by the Court to discharge the duty. However, Priscilla Kennedy, Kelly Lake s counsel, indicates that the consultation process lacked many of the requirements that would more accurately reflect that the duty had been fulfilled. See below, Part III.B. 35. Cheslatta Carrier Nation v. British Columbia (Environmental Assessment Act, Project Assessment Director), [1998] 3 C.N.L.R. 1, B.C.J. No. 178 (B.C. S.C.) at para. 58, online: QL (BCJ) [hereinafter Cheslatta]. See also P. Macklem, supra note 12 at [2002] B.C.J. No. 155 (C.A.), online: QL (BCJ), aff g (2000), 77 B.C.L.R. (3d) 310 (B.C. S.C.) [hereinafter Taku River]. This was not a Treaty 8 case, but the land was subject to the First Nation s claim of Aboriginal title. The Ministers of Environment, Energy and Northern Development ( Ministers ) were also named in the action with Redfern. The previous mine owner had transported the ore by barge down the river. The First Nation had legitimate concerns that the road would destroy the habitat and their established traditional use of the land on the proposed route.

13 Spring 2002 Recognition and Reconciliation 213 the Ministers halted consultation and approved the project without effectively addressing the substance of the Tlingit s concerns with respect to when, and on what terms and conditions, the mineral rights to be exploited by Redfern should be developed. 37 The Court referred the decision back to the Ministers to reconsider the approval, this time, with the First Nation s concerns in mind. Crown s or Industry s Duty? The courts and tribunals of British Columbia have generally held that the constitutional fiduciary obligation rests with the provincial Crown but that industry may play a large role in determining whether a provincial government has met its duty. In Halfway, CanFor and the First Nation had sixteen meetings over a four-year period, but no representative of government was involved. The Court held that the consultation was inadequate. 38 Due to the intricate and compartmentalized structure of modern government the duty to consult must fall on the Crown generally and not to any particular arm of government. The responsible Minister(s) must ensure the duty is fulfilled. When a third party is involved whose proposal may interfere with Section 35 protected rights, government policy will often require that the third party consult with the affected Aboriginal group. 39 The Royal Commission recommended that provinces require companies to develop Aboriginal land use plans as part of their operating licence for the purpose of protecting significant sites and adequately compensating groups adversely affected by oil and gas development. 40 In consideration of this policy the courts recognize that, while a fiduciary cannot delegate its fiduciary duties at law, the third party will often be expected to engage in consultation, requiring good faith on their part and an obligation to disclose all relevant information about the proposed activity. In Kelly Lake, Amoco not only jointly funded studies with the government but they also conducted other studies and showed good faith and open communication with the involved First Nations. The Court recognized that [t]he process of consultation cannot be viewed in a vacuum and must take into account the general process by which government deals with First Nation s people including any discussions between resource developers such as Amoco and First Nations people the government knew occurred Ibid. at paras Halfway, supra note 30 at P. Macklem, supra note 12 at Royal Commission, supra note 1 at Kelly Lake, supra note 33 at para. 154.

14 214 Indigenous Law Journal Vol. 1 Tribunals have also recognized that the fiduciary duty ultimately rests with the Crown. In Tsilhqot in National Government v. British Columbia, the First Nation requested that the Environmental Appeal Board rescind a pesticide use permit that would threaten their traditional use of plants and animals. The Board recognized the Ministry of Environment Lands and Parks ( MELP ) policy, Avoiding Infringement of Aboriginal Rights, that required the permit applicant to take the lead role in consultation. 42 In denying the application, the Board said that while delegating the duty to consult was problematic, the delegation of the responsibility to implement consultation may satisfy the government s fiduciary obligation in some cases but not in others ; the facts in each case, such as the sufficient involvement of government, will determine whether the obligation has been met. 43 The Board found that both MELP and the Ministry of Forests acted in good faith, chairing all of the meetings with the First Nation who were ultimately insisting on a veto of the project. While the British Columbia courts appear to have consistently held that the duty ultimately belongs to the Crown, a recent Court of Appeal decision imposed an enforceable, legal and equitable duty to consult and accommodate Aboriginal concerns on an industry party. In Haida Nation v. British Columbia (Minister of Forests) the Haida petitioned for judicial review, disputing the province s renewal of a tree farm licence under the Forest Act granted to Weyerhaeuser concerning red cedar on the Queen Charlotte Islands. The Haida had previously claimed Aboriginal title and both the government and Weyerhaeuser knew that the red cedar was integral to the Haida s culture. The Court held that both the provincial government and Weyerhaeuser were in breach of an enforceable, legal and equitable duty to consult with the Haida people. 44 While making no order on the validity of the licence until the extent of infringement could be determined, the Court was clear that however the government and Weyerhaeuser chose to deal with the Court s declaration would impact any remedy sought later. 45 Lambert J.A. was unclear as to how Weyerhaeuser came to share with the Crown the legal and equitable duty to consult except to say that both had 42. Tsilhqot in National Government v. British Columbia (Ministry of Environment, Lands, and Parks), [1998] B.C.E.A. No. 23 at para 51, online: QL (BCEA) [hereinafter Tsilhqot in]. See also P. Macklem, supra note 12 at See also the three-part test, discussed below in Part III.B. 43. Tsilhqot in, ibid. at para. 56. In Mikisew, supra note 26 at para. 156, the Federal Court stated that any consultation undertaken by a third party cannot relieve the Crown of their fiduciary obligations, nor can the duty be delegated. 44. [2002] B.C.J. No. 378 at para. 52, online: QL (BCJ) [hereinafter Haida Nation]. Neither the Crown nor Weyerhaeuser sought to accommodate the Haida s concerns despite knowledge of the facts pertaining to the Haida claim for Aboriginal title and the facts related to Aboriginal rights concerning red cedar. 45. Ibid. at paras

15 Spring 2002 Recognition and Reconciliation 215 knowledge of the facts and ought to have known that infringements were occurring. 46 Provincial Statute Does Not Affect Fiduciary Duty The British Columbia courts have repeatedly stated that the duty to consult as described in Delgamuukw exists irrespective of the provincial government s environmental legislation. The Supreme Court first expressed this opinion in Cheslatta, which could have been easily decided on the basis that the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act 47 specifically mandates consultation with affected Aboriginal groups; however, the Court explicitly stated that the common law duty to consult exists separately from the statutory obligation and that the statutory obligation in no way lessens the common law duty but it focuses on the issues of project approval. 48 In other words, relevant legislation may supplement the common law duty to consult, but it does not alter the common law requirements. The Court of Appeal recently chose to make even stronger statements regarding the relevance of provincial environmental legislation. In Taku River, Southin J.A. stated that if the Environmental Assessment Act does not meet the requirements of Delgamuukw, then the statute, if not ultra vires, is at least constitutionally inoperative insofar as it purports to give persons appointed under it power to permit a project to proceed which is not accepted by the Indian Band. 49 Southin J.A. ultimately concluded that the Act does meet the demands of Delgamuukw. It provides a process sufficient to the purpose. 50 Administrative Law Access Relief Through Administrative Tribunals The British Columbia Environmental Appeal Board has not had issue with recognizing or affirming Aboriginal rights in resource matters. In Tsilhqot in the Board heard the First Nation s duty to consult claim, although it did hold 46. Ibid. at para. 54. This decision seems to be a stretch of known sources of fiduciary duties to include Weyerhaeuser as having a duty, and it will surely be appealed. The natural resources industry should be deeply disturbed by this decision. Knowledge of the facts and participation in a breach of the duty to consult will ensure industry liability if this decision stands. 47. R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 119; see text accompanying note 114 below. 48. Cheslatta, supra note 35 at 14, para. 43. See also the discussion in C. Corcoran, supra note 29 at 7.10 and T. Campbell & M. Wyatt-Sindlinger, supra note 12 at Taku River, supra note 36 at para. 97. This reasoning will become significant in interpreting the relevance of Alberta s legislation to the Alberta government s fiduciary duty. See discussion below at note 119 and accompanying text. 50. Ibid. at para. 100.

16 216 Indigenous Law Journal Vol. 1 that the duty had been met. 51 In Fort Nelson First Nation v. British Columbia an injunction was granted in part to stay the same type of pesticide permits that were upheld in Tsilhqot in until it could be determined whether Treaty 8 rights might be infringed, and if so, whether the duty to consult had been met. On appeal, the Environmental Appeal Board upheld the injunction and held that it was within their jurisdiction as an administrative tribunal to consider Aboriginal issues. 52 The British Columbia Court of Appeal has taken a different approach when the issue is affirming the existence of Aboriginal rights. In Paul v. British Columbia (Forest Appeals Commission), Paul challenged the jurisdiction of the commission to hear his Aboriginal rights claim after he was found to have violated provincial forestry acts when he cut four red cedar to use for his house from non-treaty traditional territory. He had asked for and received permission from the Band but not the Crown. The majority held that the Province does not have the constitutional authority to empower a quasi-judicial tribunal to determine this issue because Aboriginal rights is a subject falling under federal jurisdiction. However, Huddart J.A. disagreed, stating that the Province had the authority to grant the power to operate this regime, and any consideration of Aboriginal rights in this context would only incidentally affect the federal matter. She also stated that the allocation of resources is complex with many stakeholders. The needs and rights of all parties must be considered, including First Nations, so there may be certainty in the regulation of resource use. 53 Relief Through Judicial Review As is clear from the preceding review, British Columbia courts have shown a willingness to hear duty to consult claims expeditiously through judicial review. There has, however, been some reluctance when the Aboriginal group was asserting an Aboriginal right that had not yet been established by a court proceeding. In Kelly Lake, Taylor J. noted that the applicant Kelly Lake was not a Treaty 8 adherent and held that judicial review was not the 51. Tsilhqot in, supra note Fort Nelson First Nation v. British Columbia (Ministry of Environment, Land and Parks), [1999] B.C.E.A. No. 41, online: QL (BCEA). Appeal at [1999] B.C.E.A. No. 62, online: QL (BCEA) [hereinafter Fort Nelson]. Compare the situation in Alberta: see Cheviot, infra note 82 and Whitefish Lake, infra note [2001] B.C.J. No (C.A.), online QL (BCJ) at paras. 164, 176. The majority decision seems to disregard the fact that the Supreme Court of Canada has mandated that the province has a duty to consult and accommodate when Aboriginal rights are involved. Note that leave to appeal has been granted by the Supreme Court, [2001] S.C.C.A. 639, online: QL (SCCA). The majority s reasoning should not be relevant in Alberta, where the existence of treaty rights is not at issue.

17 Spring 2002 Recognition and Reconciliation 217 forum for determining the existence of Aboriginal rights. 54 The government has consistently argued that no obligation arises until the Aboriginal group first establishes that a right or title exists. However, the Court of Appeal in Taku River has clearly stated that the obligation to consult does not only arise after Aboriginal rights or title have been proved in court, to accept this argument would negate the purpose of Section 35 protection. 55 B Fulfilling the Duty When litigation occurs, the Crown is ultimately responsible for proving its fiduciary duty has been met, but it is clear the court will scrutinize the efforts of both the government and industry. Thus it is vital that industry keep itself appraised of the direction the law is taking. Constitutional and Aboriginal lawyers, Aboriginal consulting firms and First Nations people themselves have extensively discussed what is required to fulfill the duty of consultation. The Halfway case and the Tsilhqot in tribunal decision also provide a three-part test. 56 The three criteria are a good step in the right direction if the spirit of the law, as set down in Delgamuukw, is to be achieved. Full Information to Aboriginal Groups The Crown must provide full information to Aboriginal groups potentially affected. More is required than mere notice to Aboriginal groups of legislation or a proposal the government is considering. Providing full information is more than the routine interagency referral process that occurs within today s modern governmental structure. First Nations are not agencies and many lack the resources to deal with the large amounts of paper that arrive at Band offices. Therefore, a lack of response within the thirty-to-sixty day reply period cannot imply consent. 57 The courts have held 54. C. Corcoran, supra note 29 at , citing Kelly Lake, supra note 33 at In Alberta, despite being a treaty adherent, an Aboriginal group has not succeeded through judicial review to have a duty to consult issue heard. 55. This is clearly an expansion of the doctrine. Both the majority and dissent agreed on this point: Taku River, supra note 36 at para. 94 (dissent) and paras. 162, 184, 194 (majority). 56. See Halfway, supra note 30 at paras for discussion of the three general criteria. See also Tsilhqot in, supra note 42 at para. 44 outlining the three-part test. See generally P. Macklem, supra note 12 at and S. Lawrence & P. Macklem, supra note 21 at for a discussion of the test. 57. J. Woodward & R. Janes, supra note 19 at 2.

18 218 Indigenous Law Journal Vol. 1 that the government must take the initiative in a reasonable way. 58 Full disclosure of a project requires government and industry provide First Nation groups with the means to understand all information related to a project, and this may involve funding or explanation through a preferably Aboriginal advisor, so the Aboriginal nation can adequately determine the proposal s impact. 59 One consultant states: [C]ontact ANY Aboriginal community that MAY be impacted by your project as early into your planning stage as possible and keep them informed throughout the projects development. Also have your staff do their homework and be ready to have good faith negotiations with the Aboriginal community leadership. 60 A third party company will logically play a large role in providing full information and would not want to jeopardize their project as Huckleberry Mines Ltd. nearly did in Cheslatta. Crown Fully Informed of First Nation Practices and Views It is impossible for the Crown to fulfill its fiduciary duty and make informed decisions without having a clear understanding of the Aboriginal group s culture, history, practices and concerns. This knowledge should come from impact studies funded by either government or industry, and the First Nation should control the studies because only they have the necessary information. 61 The courts will look at the materials produced through consultation and the decision made to gauge whether the decision-maker was adequately informed of the Aboriginal group s concerns. In Halfway the Cultural Heritage Overview Assessment identified the lack of information contained therein and thus failed, while the studies jointly funded by the provincial government and Amoco in Kelly Lake were found sufficient when litigation brought the consultation process under court scrutiny. 58. Halfway, supra note 30; Kelly Lake, supra note 33. See also R. v. Breaker, [1999] A.J. No. 754 at para. 9 (Prov. Ct.) [hereinafter Breaker I], online: QL (AJ). See also R. v. Sampson (1995), 16 B.C.L.R. (3d) 226 at 252 (C.A.). See analysis in T. Campbell, supra note 18 at J. Maas, supra note 28 at G. Favelle, Eagle Feather Consulting, An Aboriginal Game Plan A Plan for Success (Conference on Structuring Oil and Gas Joint Ventures with Aboriginal Communities, Calgary, 7 October 1999) Insight Press 43 at 49 [emphasis in original]. 61. J. Maas, supra note 28 at 120. See also R. v. Jack (1995), 16 B.C.L.R. (3d) 201 at 222 (C.A.) where the Crown failed its duty to inform itself of the First Nation s fishing practices and views on conservation.